Herb Of The Week - Marshmallow

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Just some snippets of info I've had on file here ....

 

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Chris (list mom)

 

LAST DAY For The Helichrysum Special!

http://www.alittleolfactory.com/

 

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Marshmallow

Althaea officinalis

 

The similarity in name between the herb marshmallow and the sweet treat

is more than a coincidence, although the modern sugar puff ball no

longer bears much relationship to the old-fashioned candy flavored with

marshmallow herb.

 

Besides inspiring makers of campfire food, the marshmallow has also been

used medicinally since ancient Greece. Hippocrates spoke of it as a

treatment for bruises and blood loss, and subsequent Roman physicians

recommended marshmallow for toothaches, insect bites, chilblains, and

irritated skin. In medieval Europe, herbalists used marshmallow to

soothe toothaches, coughs, sore throats, chapped skin, indigestion, and

diarrhea.

 

What Is Marshmallow Used for Today?

Marshmallow contains large sugar molecules called mucilage, which are

thought to exert a soothing effect on mucous membranes, and this is the

basis of most proposed uses of the herb. However, only double-blind,

placebo-controlled studies can prove a treatment effective, and no such

studies of marshmallow have been reported at this time. On the basis of

its supposed soothing properties, tea or lozenges containing marshmallow

tea are often recommended for asthma, cough, colds, and sore throat.

Marshmallow taken as tea or in capsules is sometimes recommended for

Crohn's disease or ulcers, on the theory that mucilage might sooth the

lining of the digestive tract. Finally, marshmallow ointment is

sometimes recommended for irritated skin.

 

Dosage

Marshmallow can be made into a soothing tea by steeping roots overnight

in water and diluting to taste. This tea can be drunk as desired for

symptomatic relief. Alternatively, you can take marshmallow in capsules

(5 to 6 g daily) or in tincture according to label directions.

Marshmallow ointments can be applied directly to soothe inflamed or

irritated skin.

 

Safety Issues

Marshmallow is believed to be entirely safe. It is approved for use in

foods, and its chemical makeup does not suggest any but benign effects.1

However, detailed safety studies have not been performed. One study

suggests that marshmallow can slightly lower blood sugar levels.2 For

this reason, people with diabetes should use caution when taking

marshmallow. Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or

those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.

 

References

1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for

Health-Care Professionals. London, England: Pharmaceutical Press;

1996:188.

2. Tomoda M, Shimizu N, Oshima Y, et al. Hypoglycemic activity of twenty

plant mucilages and three modified products. Planta Med.1987;53:8-12.